Question reference: S5O-04327
- Asked by: Bill Bowman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 18 March 2020
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Current status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to tackle inequality and poverty in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answer
Our £350 million package will support those in need and protect the health, welfare and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.
In addition to the support I outlined earlier, we will invest an additional £45 million in the Scottish Welfare Fund to support those in financial crisis.
Our £70 million Food Fund will help address issues of food insecurity, especially for older people, and families who rely on free school meals.
We also expect that there may be increased applications for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Scottish Social Security, and have set aside £50 million to help address this.